The 'fantasist' who became a threat to national security

Daniel Khalife described as ultimate Walter Mitty character’

- TARA COBHAM , AMY-CLARE MARTIN

An ordinary teenager from the suburbs of London spun fantasies in his mind that led to him spying for Iran and then pitching himself as a double agent to British security services before pulling off an audacious prison escape that would not be out of place in a film script.

Described as “the ultimate Walter Mitty character” by police, Daniel Khalife was a normal boy – but he was also especially egotistical and manipulative, which led to him playing a cynical game that ended up having a significant impact on the real world.

The 23-year-old has now been convicted at Woolwich Crown Court of spying for Iran, after he previously admitted having escaped from HMP Wandsworth in September last year because he wanted to be kept in a high-security unit at HMP Belmarsh, where he believed he would be safer, away from “sex offenders” and “terrorists”.

And, in a strange twist, it appears that the former soldier was successful in that quest. It is understood that he was not returned to Wandsworth prison, but instead was locked up in a category A high-security prison in London as a consequence of his actions. Days after his escape, he appeared at the Old Bailey via a video link from HMP Belmarsh. Khalife was also cleared yesterday of carrying out a bomb hoax.

Neighbours in the quiet street where Khalife grew up have told The Independent of their disbelief when news of his prison escape initially broke.